Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan Could Reportedly Part Ways with the Organization

Texas Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan could reportedly leave the organization by the end of spring training, according to the latest reports.

Randy Galloway of the Star-Telegram reports that Jon Daniels—president of baseball operations/general manager—and Rick George—president of business operations—have usurped power from CEO Ryan, and that the 66-year-old former great may well leave the Rangers franchise as a result:

Yes, there’s been a shift of power in Arlington, which may or may not be the same as a power struggle, but the end result is the same. Either way, Jon Daniels wins and a guy named Rick George wins, because the ownership group of the Texas Rangers decided that was the direction to go.

And the loser in all this? Nolan Ryan.

The Rangers owners are now on the edge of a local PR disaster with a large segment of the fandom... particularly concerning the possible exit of Ryan from the team, an exit that sources say is coming, if it happens, sooner rather than later. Like possibly by the end of spring training.

So far, however, Ryan has not confirmed he is planning on leaving the ballclub. He was not returning phone calls Sunday.

Rick Yeatts/Getty Images

Hired as the club's president in February 2008, Ryan still has three years left on his deal with the organization.

Rangers co-owner Bob Simpson has vehemently denied suggestions that the promotion of Daniels means Ryan is on the way out, telling Galloway that the Hall of Famer and baseball icon's departure would be an absolute tragedy for all involved in the matter:

We absolutely do not want Nolan to leave. The moves we announced [on Friday] were to preserve Nolan, not to remove him, or remove his power. We want Nolan to be with the Rangers forever, and in charge of the team as long as he wants to be.

Nolan Ryan will still make the anything-of-significance decisions and bring those to the owners for approval. I say significant decisions because we wanted to remove some of the day-to-day stuff from Nolan. His wisdom and his counsel are invaluable...

Yet despite these comments, sources close to the organization have told Galloway that decisions are being run through Daniels now, and not Ryan, and that this has been the case for some time now—possibly around late November.

I really can't see Nolan Ryan walking away from the Rangers.... unless there was another job opening somewhere in MLB.